Title

Bones are Bad in Potato Production

(A1772, Reviewed August 2022)
File
Publication File:
Summary

Prior to selecting a field to lease or buy for potato production, a careful analysis of the field history should be conducted to ensure that the soil does not contain bones or other foreign material such as cans, glass, golf balls, plastic, tools, rocks, wire and wood. If bones are found in a potato lot, they pose a food safety risk, are costly to remove, and will almost certainly cause rejection of the entire potato field.

Lead Author
Lead Author:
Andy Robinson, Potato Extension Agronomist, North Dakota State University and University of Minnesota
Availability
Availability:
Web only
Publication Sections

The goal of potato growers is to produce a high-yielding, high-quality crop that is safe for consumption. Animal bones, a foreign material, are a food safety risk, and fields that have bones in the soil are not suitable for potato production.

Figure 1. Composted turkey piled in a field containing bones.
Photo Credit:
Andy Robinson
Figure 1. Composted turkey piled in a field containing bones.

When any type of highly pathogenic avian influenza or other cause of deatlh results in many birds being composted, this compost is often spread on agricultural fields. Poultry compost is attractive to farmers because it is low in cost, provides organic matter, and supplies nutrients. However, if a field is spread with compost containing any bones, it should not be planted to potatoes until the bones have been completely decomposed.Bones in the soil may result in potato tubers growing around bones and/or bones being dug at harvest and piled with potato tubers. If bones are found in a potato lot, they pose a food safety risk, are costly to remove, and will almost certainly cause rejection of the entire potato field.

Prior to selecting a field to lease or buy for potato production, conduct a careful analysis of the field Selected ReferenceOlsen, N and B Geary. 2002. Managing foreign material for quality Idaho potatoes. University of Idaho Extension CIS 1104. Online at http://extension.uidaho.edu/kimberly/files/2013/04/cis11041.pdfhistory to ensure that the soil does not contain bones or other foreign material such as cans, glass, golf balls, plastic, tools, rocks, wire and wood. This can be done in many ways such as talking to neighbors and previous growers, looking at historical aerial images of the field, and/or testing the soil. Planting potatoes in fields without foreign material is an important first step to produce a high-quality and safe food product.

Selected Reference

Olsen, N., and B. Geary. 2002. Managing foreign material for quality Idaho potatoes. University of Idaho Extension CIS 1104.

Figure 2. Piles of composted turkey with bones staged for spreading in the field.
Photo Credit:
Andy Robinson
Figure 2. Piles of composted turkey with bones staged for spreading in the field.